99 Handy

The Old State House is where The Declaration of Independence was born – the stand for American freedom began here. This important civic building was used as the first state house for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts after the American Revolution was won, and was later utilized as the home for a number of other services like city hall and post office. The Old State House has been a museum dedicated to early Boston and American history since 1881.

There are plenty of ways to enjoy recreation at the Noanet Woodlands. The park features over 17 miles of recreation trials that meander through the 600-acre area. As you enjoy activities like hiking, skiing, horseback riding, and biking, you'll see a variety of birds like hawks and warblers, animals like bullfrogs and turtles, and a large amount of wildflowers, including marigolds and pink lady's slipper.

Take a look back in time at the Nichols House Museum, one of the oldest homes in Beacon Hill. The house was built in 1804 and purchased by Dr. Arthur Nichols in 1885; the house stayed in the family until the death of the doctor's daughter, Rose Standish Nichols, in 1960. As can be imagined, the family accumulated many things throughout the years from art works to furniture, oriental rugs, and other furnishings and antiquities. You're invited to experience early American life inside the walls of this historic home.